Maja Chwalinska Opens Up After Painful Fall Ends Wimbledon Hopes: “I’ll Cry for a While and It’ll Be Okay”

Maja Chwalinska hoped to make another great run, this time at Wimbledon, after receiving a wild card. The Pole, however, couldn’t win her first-round match.

The 20th seed, playing her first grass-court match of the season, was just one point away from securing an easy win as she had a 6-2, 5-2 lead against qualifier Mananchaya Sawangkaew. But at that moment, she slipped and fell awkwardly, twisting her ankle.

The injury at first didn’t seem serious, but Chwalinska received treatment on her right leg. The painful fall restricted her movement, and she never recovered. This saw Sawangkaew eventually end the match in her favor.

But oh well…I’ve had a new experience; this is one of the toughest matches of my career. I’ll cry for a while, and it’ll be okay.

Maja Chwalinska said at the press conference

Earlier this month, the 24-year-old scripted history at Roland Garros. She became the first qualifier since Emma Raducanu at the 2021 US Open to reach a Grand Slam final. But Chwalinska lost the match easily to Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva in straight sets.

I won’t hide the fact that I believed I could win this. I just wanted to play my best, but I also know that with my style of play, when something like this happens,  it’s incredibly difficult because suddenly I won’t be able to play five winners in a row. This is Wimbledon, so I wouldn’t want to do that unless – like the cramps now – it’s risky and doesn’t negatively impact me in the long run. I think it would be a mistake to give up early.

Maja Chwalinska added

Chwilę po kontuzji stopy Maja Chwalińska odczuwała silny ból pleców, czyżby kontuzja była bardziej rozległa. pic.twitter.com/QUlQzIP2N3

— Metakognita (@metakognita) June 29, 2026

Her exit was very similar to ATP World No.1 Jannik Sinner‘s exit at the French Open. Needing just a game in the third set to win his second-round match, the Italian ace lost the match due to severe full-body cramps. The four-time Grand Slam champion is competing as the defending champion at SW19.

Maja Chwalinska on how she deals with social media hate

Maja Chwalinska understands that the internet can turn cruel, especially after a defeat at a Major where she was expected to make a deep run. At the press conference after her Wimbledon exit, Chwalinska was asked if she tries to detach herself from all the online negativity.

I think it’s much better than it was a few years ago. I know the scale is different now, but we’ll see. It’s a new experience for me; I think I’m getting thicker skin, but I’m also human, so I get the hate. We’ll see how I deal with it.

Mananchaya Sawangkaew, after defeating Chwalinska, has set up her second-round match against Alycia Parks. She made her Grand Slam main draw debut in this year’s Australian Open, where she lost to Emma Raducanu in the first round.

Chwalinska, on the other hand, made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2022 Wimbledon, losing in the second round to Alison Riske-Amritraj. She did not qualify for another main draw until last year’s Australian Open. Chwalinska has so far played just one tour-level final (in this French Open).

After the clay-court Major, Chwalinska chose not to feature in any warm-up tournaments before Wimbledon. She will next compete in events on the North American hardcourt swing.

In the ongoing event, countrywoman Iga Swiatek is competing as the defending champion. Last year, after losing her career’s first grass-court final at the hands of Jessica Pegula at the Bad Homburg Open, the six-time Grand Slam champion clinched the trophy at Wimbledon by double-bageling Amanda Anisimova.

Also read: Joao Fonseca Opens Up on the Characteristics of Rafael Nadal that Inspired His Career